Is the Clove Hitch Safe?

[craigskiles]

I'm looking for some advice from the experts about the safety of the clove hitch, especially when used with a stiff rope to make a 'biner-block.

In my experiments with my brand new Canyonero 9.2mm and a collection of various carabiners have found that I have trouble getting a clove hitch to tighten and stay tight. With a soft dynamic rope, it tightens up nicely and doesn't seem so scary.

From searching on the internet, I have found some knot-based websites mentioning that a rolling hitch should be used in place of the clove hitch.

However, with the stiff Canyonero rope, I don't see the rolling hitch working any better.

Maybe I just need to rappel on my new rope a few times before using it with a clove hitch or maybe someone can suggest an alternative or enhancement to the clove hitch that allows it to work with a new stiff rope.

Craig

[Absolute Gravity]

When I'm out with Bob (@Slot Machine), which is most of the times I get out, we tie a figure 8 on a bight and then put the biner through the bight and the lowest loop of the '8' and then set the knot along the spine of the biner. It is bulkier than a clove hitch but works great. Might be a less scary alternative for you.

[Mountaineer]

Clove hitch is safe when used correctly. Used it thousands of times.

Constrictor knot is a good alternate.

[craigskiles]

Thanks. The constrictor hitch works very well! It is easy to untie with my new stiff rope but it becomes almost unreleasable with my soft dynamic rope.

[Bootboy]

Thanks. The constrictor hitch works very well! It is easy to untie with my new stiff rope but it becomes almost unreleasable with my soft dynamic rope.

It's easily releasable with any rope. But you have to tie it right. Clip the cross over so you are clipping three strands instead of just two. Once tightened it can easily be loosened if you work the knot to the corner of the biner.

[Byron]

tie a figure 8 on a bight

That's the ticket right there...I'm an old school figure 8 whore. That knot does it all and takes all of 3 seconds to work.

[Slot Machine]

The clove hitch is safe as far as I know. However, I picture myself messing it up under combat conditions, then falling to my death... It just seems like the kind of thing I would screw up at some point. Not logical, I know. Like Byron, I'm very comfortable being an old school fig-8 whore.

However, there are some perks to my quirks. If your group only uses two knots (overhands for webbing and fig-8's for rope), then it is very easy to check each other's work. Yes, we know other rope tricks, but we choose not to use them. The simplicity adds to our safety, IMO.

Here is a fig-8 block on my burly bomber living room anchor:

[oldno7]

The clove hitch works well. With a stiffer handed rope, spend a minute and dress it and tighten from both sides.

Each rappeler should take a second and inspect prior to abseiling but that should be the rappeler's job EVERYTIME, on every rigging/anchor.

Failure to do so, could result in a dirt nap.

[oldno7]

I would add, only use these static blocks if you are competent enough to convert them to a lower.

If you are not, I would suggest a dynamic block.

[hank moon]

Lotsa good stuff already mentioned...and here's another solution: the triple clove

[craigskiles]

I would add, only use these static blocks if you are competent enough to convert them to a lower.

If you are not, I would suggest a dynamic block.

I'm not competent enough to covert to a lower but am working on that.

By "dynamic block" do you mean something like a stone knot that can be easily released if the need to lower arises?

[oldno7]

I'm not competent enough to covert to a lower but am working on that.

By "dynamic block" do you mean something like a stone knot that can be easily released if the need to lower arises?

No--I mean something more in the line of easily contingency capable(fig. 8 releasable,munter mule, etc.), rather than having to convert to contingency.

Time is always of the essence when SHTF, a little forethought makes the movement less of a panic when actually needed.

A bit of practice makes it simple.

[craigskiles]

Oldno7, Thanks. The words "dynamic block" confused me but I understand what a contingency anchor is, even if I'm not quite competent to tie one.

Hank, the triple clove hitch is fantastic and your video makes tying the clove hitch so much easier than how I was doing it.

[oldno7]

Oldno7, Thanks. The words "dynamic block" confused me but I understand what a contingency anchor is, even if I'm not quite competent to tie one.

You're likely competent enough, just need a bit of show and tell(unlike show don't tell)

[ghawk]

The clove hitch works well. With a stiffer handed rope, spend a minute and dress it and tighten from both sides.

This ^ - I spend a little time dressing it and have never had issues with it.

[oldno7]

Lotsa good stuff already mentioned...and here's another solution: the triple clove

Why stop with 3?

7--I really like 7.....

[oldno7]

When hank and I do canyon's together, we always use 7 hitches.

Wait--I've never done a canyon with hank, but if I do, we will use 7 cloves, cause 3 is better than 2.

[oldno7]

Red left showing for the anal...

[oldno7]

and--if ya hitch a lot, ya ain't gotta dress em out as much, cause they hold gud

[Taylor]

Hitches? We don't need no stinking hitches. Just rap double strand.